A reminder that farmers should continue being at the center of our efforts
In addition to the human vulnerabilities that COVID-19 has exposed, this crisis also can serve as a reminder of the impact of human activities on the environment. There is a connection between the increase in diseases and the destruction of our environment, this has been highlighted in several media outlets since the start of the crisis.
This only reiterates that the ultimate target of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative, protecting and restoring the forests of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana is even more urgent. Forests provide critical habitats to biodiversity, as well as a broad range of services that are critical to human well-being. Forests help mitigate the impact of climate change, reduce soil erosion, increase water retention in soils, etc. All these services are critical to farming, and to the future of the cocoa sector in Côte d’Ivoire and in Ghana.
The task of maintaining these services falls on all of our shoulders, including the farmers. A reminder that farmers should continue being at the center of the CFI approach to addressing deforestation.
We encourage you all to keep up the positive work. As the CFI progress reports reveal, there has been an enormous amount energy invested into it in the last years. We have made crucial steps to reach our goals and although times are challenging, together we need to support farmers and protect biodiversity for the future.